
Porsche Cayman and 718 are not the same model. The differences are as follows: 1. Different versions: Cayman is a hardtop coupe version, while Boxster is a soft-top convertible version. The Cayman is Porsche's entry-level two-door hardtop model developed based on the Boxster, positioned between the Boxster and the 911 Carrera. The name Cayman refers to the caiman, known for its strength, agility, quick reflexes, and precise attacks. 2. Different pricing: The new Porsche 718 is positioned below the brand's most affordable sports car, the Boxster/Cayman.

I used to chase Porsches for many years and remember the Cayman as that hardtop mid-engine sports car. Then in 2016, Porsche renamed the entire series to 718. Now the 718 includes both the hardtop Cayman and the convertible Boxster. The 718 is actually more like a model series brand name, just like Macan represents the mid-size SUV. It uniformly uses a four-cylinder turbo engine, which sounds completely different from the old Cayman's flat-six. However, the handling still has that classic Porsche precision, with the chassis feeling particularly stable when cornering.

I just test drove the 718 Cayman last year, and the salesperson said this car is essentially the previous Cayman model rebranded into the 718 series. Now they're all called 718 Cayman, with the powertrain upgraded to a 2.0T or 2.5T engine, making it noticeably more agile than the older version. Sitting inside, I found the steering wheel exceptionally responsive, and it handled speed bumps without much jolt. You need to carefully check the official website for configuration options – the 718 series is further divided into base models and high-performance GTS versions, with quite a price difference between them.

As a frequent visitor to tuning shops, I've disassembled many Porsche engines. The biggest difference between the 718 Cayman and the older Cayman lies in the powertrain – the 718 comes standard with a turbocharged four-cylinder engine, while the older model had a naturally aspirated six-cylinder. The current 718 chassis is more lightweight, but the rear suspension design remains largely unchanged. When buying used, pay attention to the transmission: the 718's PDK shifts half a second faster than the older model, though the manual transmission option has been retained in both.


